Warren Kinsella, a veteran journalist and activist who has spent 40 years exposing and opposing antisemitism, has raised serious questions about Prime Minister Mark Carney's stance on Israel and antisemitism. In a recent column, Kinsella detailed a series of Carney's actions and statements that he finds alarming, though he stops short of labeling Carney an antisemite.
Carney's Actions Under Scrutiny
Kinsella notes that during the 2025 election campaign, Carney responded to accusations of a “genocide” in Gaza by saying “I’m aware,” and later pledged to continue funding a UN agency whose employees participated in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. In June 2025, Carney directed Canada to vote for a UN resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza without sanctioning Hamas. The following month, he accused Israel of violating international law and announced Canada's intention to recognize a Palestinian state, which Kinsella describes as a state run by Hamas, a designated terrorist entity.
Escalating Rhetoric and Policies
By September 2025, Carney-led Canada officially recognized Palestine as a state and again accused Israel of violating international law. In October 2025, Carney said he would have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested for crimes against humanity if Netanyahu came to Canada. In March 2026, Carney condemned Israel's actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon as “illegal,” and in May 2026, he denounced Israel's treatment of a Gaza aid flotilla, which Kinsella notes arrived without any aid.
Recent Controversial Statements
Earlier this month, Carney spoke at Holy Blossom Synagogue in Toronto, a speech that Kinsella says was criticized by every major Jewish organization in Canada. They were particularly angered by Carney's creation of an antisemitism advisory panel that included a former Liberal MP who had advocated against designating Hamas as a terror group. Days later, Carney praised Donald Trump's deal with Iran, calling it a “game-changer” that would give the Islamist regime billions while allowing it to maintain its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.
This week, Carney stated that Canada is “at a disadvantage” for lacking a diplomatic presence in Iran, the world's leading state sponsor of terror, and there were reports of possible plans to allow Iran to reopen its embassy in Ottawa, closed since 2012.
Kinsella's Analysis
Kinsella theorizes that Carney's anti-Israel actions may be a cynical attempt to appease the left wing of his party, given his conservative economic policies. However, he concludes that while he cannot definitively call Carney an antisemite, the pattern of behavior is deeply concerning. Kinsella will address the question again at an upcoming event at Holy Blossom Synagogue, where he expects to be asked whether the Prime Minister is an antisemite. His planned response: “I don’t know.”
